A large study has found that women who are overweight in midlife are far more likely than those who maintain a healthy weight to suffer from multiple chronic diseases and impaired mental health as they age. According to Science Daily, "It is the first study to show the role adiposity (fattiness) may play in the overall health of women who survive to older ages."

More broadly, this work is interesting because it doesn't focus on a single factor but on overall health later in life. »more»

With the passing of her predecessor, Gertrude Baines, of Los Angeles, Californian because the oldest known person on earth. Gertrude is 114 and is one of 90 validated "supercentenarians"-- anyone who has been validated to have lived to be 110 years or older. As in indication of the impact of gender on longevity, 81 of these supercentenarians are women with only 9 begin male. »more»

The scientific quest for longevity is heating up. After a century of dramatic increases in life expectancy from such things clean water systems and improved medicines and vaccines, studies are yielding important information on what produces healthy aging. Lifestyle is certainly one variable. »more»

One attribute of increases in human longevity is that the length of time that seniors are expected to live past retirement has been increasing. Even though people are living longer (since 1940 men are now living on average five years longer), the age of customary retirement has been relatively fixed. »more»

In the July 3rd online edition of Cell Metabolism (linked below), it was reported that scientists funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, have found that the compound resveratrol slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age. »more»

The latest issue of USAM Swimmer has some interesting observations about the correlation between being a regular swimmer and health, quality of life and longevity. »more»

Husbands might want to print this article and save it.

According to the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institute, "the death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a 5 year increase in life expectancy. Golfers with a low handicap are the safest." »more»

Federal health officials say falling mortality rates in nearly all the leading causes of death has led to the United States’ highest life expectancy rate in history surpassing 78. Remarkably the average life expectancy for babies born in 2006 was about four months greater than for children born in 2005. U.S. »more»

There are several intriguing articles in the recent issue of journal Preventive Medicine. Among them: how babies are bad for your health, why you should act like a Mormon, and why you should be glad your dog wants to go for a walk. »more»

Intuitively we all know that leading a sedentary lifestyle is not healthy. Yet it is still eye-opening when scientific studies show us exactly how unhealthy it is. The most recent example is a comprehensive study of twins by the King's College London and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. »more»